Research Guides: Using AI Tools in Your Research: Machine Learning for Research

Using Machine Learning Tools for Finding Research

These tools can help you discover new sources either similar to one you've already found or those relevant to your question or topic. They have slightly different features so we encourage you to experiment with them and see what you can find. Except for Science Direct, these are free sources, and are always not very clear about the sources of the scholarship in their applications, and generally have access to less full-text sources than what we have available through the library website. Note also that these tools may lead you to a narrow or more constrained view of your topic - be sure you are being creative in your search strategies and keywords to find all the research applicable to you.

ScienceDirect
Register to create a user-based profile that will filter research relevant to your topic. May become overly narrow in its recommendations!
Consensus
A free search engine that uses AI to extract, aggregate, and distill findings from research articles. Northwestern does not have paid access. Limited scope but you can ask it research questions, including on questions on relationships between concepts, yes/no questions, and the effects of a concept. Has access to LESS than what is available through the library website.
Elicit
An AI tool that finds articles and summarizes article abstracts, while also mining for keywords/subject headings. Offers free and paid versions. Elicit can find relevant papers without perfect keyword match, summarize takeaways from the papers specific to your question, and extract key information from the papers. Includes full-text and articles behind paywalls. Has access to LESS than what is available through the library website.
ResearchRabbit
A citation-based literature mapping tool, showing links and relationships between authors and sources. Allows you create collections, categorize resources, and share collections.Has access to LESS than what is available through the library website.

In the future

Machine learning and AI are being integrated into beta tools offered by many academic publishers, including Scopus, ProQuest, and OCLC's WorldCat. We do not have the tools listed below at this time. More information will be added here as we find it.

Machine Learning and WorldCat: improving records for cataloging and discovery
2023, August 14: OCLC will implement a machine learning model to identify and de-duplicate records in WorldCat, with the end result of removing 500,000 duplicate records, improving cataloging, discovery, and interlibrary loan experiences for both library staff and end users.
Scopus AI
Elsevier's tool to summarize research. Sign up for more information.
ProQuest/Syndetics Unbound Talpa Search
Experimental, AI-powered library search tool that is optimized for "What's that book?" questions (kid with a magic crayon, or time travel novel with a blue cover).